Court gives life sentences to 2004 Moscow subway bombers

Moscow, Feb 2 (UNI) A City Court today sentenced three convicts for terrorist attacks on the Moscow subway in 2004, which killed 49 people and injured over 300.

The court found Murat Shalayev, a former counsellor in the Russian Justice Ministry, and Maxim Panaryin and Tamby Khibiyev, all members of a criminal group, Karachai jamaat, guilty of terrorism, banditry and illegal possession of arms and explosives.

The trio were involved in the February 2004 bomb blast in a subway carriage between the central metro stations Avtozavodskaya and Paveletskaya and another one near the entrance to the Rizhskaya station in northern Moscow in August.

The three are also suspected of involvement in a series of terrorist attacks at bus stops in the southwestern city of Voronezh and in Krasnodar, in southern Russia.

In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered them to pay 226,500 dollars for inflicting moral damage.

The prosecution in the case was satisfied with the verdict, while a lawyer for Panaryin, who partially admitted to some of the charges, said he would appeal to a higher court, as his client was not guilty on some charges.

"Maxim Panaryin did not admit his guilt on some charges," Natalia Alyoshina said, adding "We also feel the classification of the crimes was wrong and will appeal the verdict." Lawyers for Shavayev and Khubiyev said they too would file appeals within 10 days.

Igor Trunov, a lawyer for the victims said he was satisfied with the verdict.

UNI